VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is becoming an increasingly common communication tool among today’s business owners. Currently, the market size for VoIP is expected to reach around $145.8 billion by 2024, as companies grow increasingly digitised.
Switching to a VoIP phone connection allows companies to take advantage of cheaper rates when communicating with contacts throughout the world. A VoIP connection can also deliver a host of other benefits, such as increased accessibility, better portability, and higher scalability for brands. However, when many companies switch to a VoIP system, they don’t want to leave their old number behind. This is where number porting comes in.
Porting an existing number from a business landline or mobile into a VoIP service means organisations can retain the number their customers are already familiar with. The process is also relatively straightforward, as it’s usually handled mostly by the VoIP provider.
Can Companies Keep Their Number when Switching to VoIP?
Number porting is a common service offered by VoIP and UCaaS providers. Many businesses shifting into the digital world with their communications may have used the same number for several years. The last thing they want to do is make it more difficult for customers to remember their details, and contact them when they need help with a service.
When a company switches to VoIP, their provider will usually allow them to bring their phone number with them, so they can update their communications without any complexities. This protects the brand, reduces the risk of lost customers, and can save brands time and money.
However, there are some limitations involved in switching to VoIP. For instance, some companies will only allow for number porting when a customer pays an additional fee. This fee can be offered as a one-time payment or a monthly subscription amount.
Number porting can also impose subscriptions on the service offered. For instance, if a VoIP company offers specific features linked to a new number, these may only be available for companies who set up a new number with a different line.
How to Port an Existing Number to VoIP
Number porting is a relatively straightforward process in most cases. In some countries, such as the US, regulatory bodies have ruled that VoIP service providers should always offer phone number portability to their customers. This ensures users can keep their number not only when they move to VoIP for the first time, but also when they switch providers.
In most cases, porting a number to VoIP starts by purchasing a VoIP plan and creating an account with a provider. Vendors may ask users to fill in some details about the number they want to transfer and the time they need to be able to access the new number. It’s important to fill out these details early to ensure the transfer process is as quick as possible.
Once the form is completed, it will be sent to the VoIP company, which will take care of the switch on the users behalf. The VoIP provider will contact the relevant company responsible for the phone number and ensure the details for this number are transferred into their system. In some cases, a VoIP vendor may ask for certain documents to confirm a company’s ownership of a number.
Tips for Porting a Number to a VoIP Service
Companies work with ISDN and PTSN phone line providers within the relevant country for their customers to arrange for the details of a number to be switched into the VoIP landscape. If a VoIP provider doesn’t offer this service, there are other third-party companies who can handle number transfers on the behalf of customers.
When porting a number to VoIP, organisations should keep the following tips in mind:
- Don’t cancel the existing phone service too fast: Crucially, companies transitioning to VoIP should not attempt to cancel or terminate their existing phone service before they new the new service is set up. Ending the current service before the contract is established could mean organisations end up losing access to their number.
- Speak to the vendor about porting options: Checking in with vendors about the phone porting services and number options they offer can be helpful. Some vendors will be able to port various numbers at once, as well as setting up new numbers for businesses at the same time, with specific features.
- Make sure the records match: The personal records for a number to be ported need to be identical for both companies involved in the transfer. The name, address, and other details connected with the number should be identical, otherwise, the VoIP company may not be able to ensure the phone number belongs to a specific business.
It’s also worth checking the details of porting a phone number with an existing phone provider. If the number is linked to an internet connection, ending a contract with an existing supplier may cause the internet contract to end too.
How Long Does it Take to Port a Phone Number to VoIP?
Porting a number to a VoIP platform is usually a relatively straightforward process, handled by the company responsible for the PSTN or IDSN phone line, and the VoIP provider. However, it can take some time for the process to be completed. In most cases, it will take up to 10 working days for the number to be transferred, though some companies can promise faster speeds.
Usually, when a company fills out a form to have a number ported, their VoIP provider will be able to give them an estimated date when the transfer will happen. Until this date, the customer will need to keep their existing number up and running with their existing provider.
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